By ANDREW FAISON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
andrew.faison@yahoo.com

COURTLAND—The Southampton High School boys’ basketball team lost a Southside District match-up to Brunswick Wednesday night 54-40.

“I am really pleased with the effort the guys gave tonight,” said Indian Head Basketball Coach Will Melbye. “(I) told the guys in the locker room that I am not one for moral victories, but playing them that well is a feather I’ll stick in my hat.”

The Indians fall to 1-3 overall and 0-3 in the league.

“This was only our fourth game, compared to Brunswick’s 10th or 11th game, so there is a big difference in actual game experience,” Melbye said. “Two of our three district losses have been to them, so it makes it tough. ”

Josh Johnson led the Indians, scoring 14 points and going 100 percent from the free-throw line.

Brunswick opened up with a 10-2 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.

Southampton’s Karon Evans brought the Indians to within 1 point of the lead off a 3-point shot with 1:35 left in the first quarter. Unfortunately for the Indians, they could never capitalize on that momentum and went down to a deficit of 29-17 at the half.

“These were two teams that were running up and playing very well together,” said Melbye. “It was a good paced game; it wasn’t too choppy, good defense played on both sides, and we played alright.”

The Indians travel to Nottoway Friday, Jan. 7, for a Southside District competition at 7:30p.m. before returning home for non-district match-up at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, against Sussex.